The 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction will take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi, marking the third consecutive year that the event is being held overseas. According to ESPNcricinfo, this year’s edition will be a mini auction, completed in a single day, unlike the two-day mega auction format used previously.
The 2024 auction in Dubai was the first-ever IPL auction conducted outside India, followed by the 2025 mega auction in Jeddah last November.
Franchise Deadlines and Auction Process
All IPL franchises have been instructed to submit their retained and released player lists from their 2025 squads by 3 pm IST on November 15.
After the submission, teams will receive the list of registered players, from which they can shortlist names for the auction. The final auction pool will then be finalised by the IPL Governing Council based on these selections.
Trading Window and Restrictions
The IPL trading window, which opened soon after the conclusion of the 2025 season, will remain active until one week before the auction. It will reopen after the auction and continue until one month before IPL 2026 begins.
However, a key rule remains in place: franchises cannot trade any player purchased at the upcoming auction.
Major Trades So Far: Big Names on the Move
So far, there have already been four confirmed trades involving five franchises, with one of the most high-profile swaps in IPL history grabbing headlines.
In a landmark move, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) acquired Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals (RR). In return, RR received star all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran — making it one of the boldest trade decisions in the tournament’s history.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians (MI) have made two all-cash deals — signing Shardul Thakur from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for ₹2 crore and Sherfane Rutherford from Gujarat Titans (GT) for ₹2.60 crore.
In another deal, LSG acquired Arjun Tendulkar from MI for his base price of ₹30 lakh, further strengthening their domestic bowling depth.
What’s Next for IPL 2026
With the auction pool soon to be finalised and the trading window nearing closure, franchises are already strategising for the upcoming season. The focus will likely be on rebalancing squads, domestic talent scouting, and overseas player retention ahead of what promises to be another blockbuster IPL year.